Master's in Journalism
On-Campus Course Schedule for Spring 2025
Data Reporting
This course is intended to introduce students to data journalism through hands-on work and a survey of techniques used in reporting. Students will learn how to acquire, evaluate and analyze data from a variety of sources, with an emphasis on using freely available tools. The goal is to develop a comfort level for working with different kinds of data and for different purposes, which include creating visualizations or maps to aid in the reporting process. This is a skills-based course, so students will need to be comfortable with learning to use computer software beyond word processors. Prior experience is not required or assumed, but a basic comfort level and willingness to experiment are vital.
Note: Students must have completed MPJO 501/5001 Reporting, and News Writing and MPJO 505/5003 Digital Essentials.
- Course #: MPJO-7002-01
- CRN: 47605
- Instructors: Day, C. , Gillum, J.
- Dates: Jan 08 – May 10, 2025
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Class Meetings:
- Wed 5:20 PM - 7:50 PM
Dig. Analytics & Measurement
This course examines the processes for gathering, interpreting, and presenting compelling digital data. Students will learn to use digital public opinion polling, specialized reports, social media platforms, digital analysis tools, and news aggregators to explain market research, audience trends, and social conversations. Students will also create data visualization tools to streamline data presentation into succinct, engaging formats.
Note: Students must have completed MPJO 500/5000 Ethics, MPJO 501/5001 Reporting, and News Writing, MPJO 505/5003 Digital Essentials, and MPJO 508/5008 Photo and Video Storytelling.
- Course #: MPJO-7100-01
- CRN: 45905
- Instructor: Droms, J.
- Dates: Jan 08 – May 10, 2025
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Class Meetings:
- Thu 5:20 PM - 7:50 PM
Digital Essentials
This course examines the essential digital skills needed in the field of journalism today. We will study the current media landscape to help students understand how digital skills and sensibilities are integrated with reporting, content creation, information dissemination and audience building efforts at news organizations of all sizes. The course involves a survey of key issues affecting the day-to-day work of modern journalists, as well as an examination of emerging technologies, platforms and ideas. Case studies, readings, media surveillance and guest lectures will help students learn the core skills needed to broaden their career opportunities; to add to their fundamental reporting background; and to think entrepreneurially about how to shape journalism. The final project will consist of a semester-long, team-created digital project that implements the full range of skills covered in the course. Students will: • learn practical, effective and applicable digital skills • create and distribute original content • investigate how individuals build traditional or unique journalism careers • develop and debate ideas using a collaborative, interactive team approach • display learning in class discussions, writing assignments and the final project This course is required for all MPS Journalism students. In order to satisfy graduation requirements, students must earn a B (3.00) or higher. Any student who fails to do so must repeat the course.
Note: Foundation requirement for the Journalism Program. This course requires a grade of "B" or better.
- Course #: MPJO-5003-01
- CRN: 21031
- Instructor: Crane, M.
- Dates: Jan 08 – May 10, 2025
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Class Meetings:
- Tue 5:20 PM - 7:50 PM
MPS Journalism Capstone
The Master of Professional Studies Journalism degree program culminates in the Capstone. Each student produces a substantive and original reporting project on a timely issue that showcases his/her talents as a prospective journalist. It should be a major work of professional quality that requires extensive legwork, interviewing and research and will become the centerpiece of your portfolio. The Capstone experience is intended to provide students an opportunity to demonstrate that they have the journalistic skills, ethics and initiative necessary to be a professional journalist. The Capstone project is an independent reporting endeavor. Class sessions provide feedback and structure. Group instructors will give you guidance throughout the semester, and your small groups will serve as mini-newsrooms where you will be expected to give each other feedback and support. Successful completion of the MPSJ degree also requires submitting an ethics essay that reflects on your firsthand experience as a journalist. The essay will be graded as one of the assignments in the Capstone class. This is a core course of the MPS Journalism program, and students must earn a “B” (83) or higher to pass the course. Please see the Graduate Student Handbook for more details. Students with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA who receive a final grade of a B- or below may receive one opportunity to retake the course, if approved by the dean.
Note: Registration requires department approval and a manual add by your Program Director. Students must have completed MPJO 500/5000 Ethics, MPJO 501/5001 Reporting, and News Writing, MPJO 505/5003 Digital Essentials, and MPJO 508/5008 Photo and Video Storytelling. This course must be taken in the student's final semester.
- Course #: MPJO-7990-01
- CRN: 16613
- Instructor: Feldman, C.
- Dates: Jan 08 – May 10, 2025
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Class Meetings:
- Tue 5:20 PM - 7:50 PM
MPS Journalism Internship
Internships are a great way for students to gain real-world experiences and network with professionals in the field. Many employers require at least some internship experience to appear on a student’s resume. Taking on an internship while in the MPS Journalism program can help students integrate and enhance the skills they are learning in the classroom with professional, hands-on experiences. Students must participate in the internship according to the guidelines furnished by the employer, and they will be required to submit a weekly 500-word writing assignment reflecting on the successes and challenges of the internship. At the end of each semester, the student’s supervisor must complete an evaluation of the student’s performance, and submit it directly to the MPS Journalism program. ** Students must receive approval from the MPS Journalism program prior to enrolling in the Internship class.
Note: Requires approval of the MPS Journalism program and a manual add by the Program Advisor. This course is cross-listed with MPPR-7951-01 and MPMC 7951-01.
- Course #: MPJO-7951-01
- CRN: 19145
- Instructor: Hiraki, S.
- Dates: Jan 08 – May 10, 2025
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Class Meetings:
MPS Journalism Internship II
Internships are a great way for students to gain real-world experiences and network with professionals in the field. Many employers require at least some internship experience to appear on a student’s resume. Taking on an internship while in the MPS Journalism program can help students integrate and enhance the skills they are learning in the classroom with professional, hands-on experiences. Students must participate in the internship according to the guidelines furnished by the employer, and they will be required to submit a weekly 500-word writing assignment reflecting on the successes and challenges of the internship. At the end of each semester, the student’s supervisor must complete an evaluation of the student’s performance, and submit it directly to the MPS Journalism program. ** Students must receive approval from the MPS Journalism program prior to enrolling in the Internship class. Note: Extensive, documented academic activity and experiential learning outside of the classroom (min. 6-8 hours per week) is required.
Note: Registration requires department approval and a manual add by your Program Director. This course is cross-listed with MPPR-7952-01 and MPMC 7952-01. The prerequisite for this course is MPJO 7951 internship one class.
- Course #: MPJO-7952-01
- CRN: 36516
- Instructor: Pulitzer, J.
- Dates: Jan 08 – May 10, 2025
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Class Meetings:
MPS Journalism Internship III
This one-credit course is designed to give credit for students doing an internship with an organization that requires them to receive credit. The internships should be substantive and have the goal of providing relevant industry experience, portfolio items or other professional work for students to use when looking for jobs. This course is also meant as a way to help support students who are doing internships. Students are expected to check in every week with the instructor about their experience so that the instructor can give guidance for the internship and for working within a professional organization.
Note: Registration requires department approval and a manual add by your Program Director. This course is cross-listed with MPPR-7953-01 and MPMC 7953-01. The prerequisites for this course are MPJO 860/7951 internship one and MPJO 861/7952 internship two.
- Course #: MPJO-7953-01
- CRN: 47092
- Instructor: Garcia, G.
- Dates: Jan 08 – May 10, 2025
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Class Meetings:
Photo & Video Storytelling
Foundation requirement for Journalism majors. This course requires a grade of "B" or better to pass. Additional 150 minute distance learning component required. Course Description: This course is designed to give the student the ability to communicate in the Video Age--whether for television or the web. We call it storytelling to emphasize the communication of ideas, rather than simply the technical knowledge of shooting and editing video. Students will begin by learning how shots work together, how to write compelling scripts, and how to use audio for best effect. Then students will work with professional camera equipment to develop shooting, lighting, and audio skills. The class will also have hands-on instruction in editing techniques using Final Cut Pro. By the end of the course, students should be comfortable in the video storytelling process--from the flash of an idea, to the finished product on the screen, in the field, and in the studio. Students who entered the MPS Journalism program in Summer 2010 and thereafter must complete this class and receive a grade of solid "B" (3.00) or higher in order to graduate.
Note: Foundation requirement for the Journalism Program. This course requires a grade of "B" or better.
- Course #: MPJO-5008-01
- CRN: 47602
- Instructor: Samuel, S.
- Dates: Jan 08 – May 10, 2025
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Class Meetings:
- Thu 5:20 PM - 7:50 PM
Podcasting& Audio Storytelling
In this course, students will learn the principles of how to report and produce non-fiction audio stories that may be featured in a Georgetown SCS podcast about Washington, D.C. The course includes fundamentals of how to record and conduct effective interviews, record scenes on location, how to edit audio, write for the ear and use a digital audio editor to assemble audio stories for the podcast series.
Note: JO Students must have the prerequisites of MPJO 501/5001 Reporting and News Writing and MPJO 508/5008 Photo and video storytelling to enroll.
- Course #: MPJO-6002-01
- CRN: 47603
- Instructor: Arrieta, R.
- Dates: Jan 08 – May 10, 2025
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Class Meetings:
- Tue 8:00 PM - 10:30 PM